Hi folks,

We're pleased to announce you can now send Private Messages (PMs) to other users. Simply click on the "Send PM" button next to the user when viewing a thread. Your inbox and sent items folder are limited to 15 messages each. Enjoy, and remember.. keep it clean folks! The facility to report users for sending inappropriate messages will be added soon.

Personally, I wouldn't go for a Dell laptop. Their desktops are fine, but I've had a number of laptops that just fall apart. Within a year, you were gluing on the keys that had dropped off - shocking build quality.

I think the best advice to keep it working well is to:

a) remove all the stupid software ("trials" etc) they put on it when you first get it, before you add anything yourself.
b) try not to download too many apps and software that end up running in the background and using valuable resources.

Good luck!

P.s. Check out Toshibas - normally quite reliable.

Have you tried what we call "Fish and Chips" Olivia?

Nice grovel, but I'm afraid we've told you the only way you can get stars. We can't just hand them out like sweets. If we could, we would.

Naturally. We get the final say over everything ;-)

Correct. It is intended to highlight the best and most useful posters. If someone posts a question, or requires some advice, and you respond in a helpful manner they can vote for you as a "helpful user". We felt this was the best way of rewarding our best and most loyal posters.

You can't just vote for people willy nilly. Yes, I did just say willy nilly.

Sylvester, you were closest with Chris Waddle. Congratulations, you now have 3 stars. We don't normally give them out, but as you have been a consistently decent poster for a few years, we thought you deserved 3. Who knows... maybe one day we'll promote you to a Moderator!

I'm afraid that's it for free stars - we're not giving any more out, so please don't ask. However, you can still earn them yourself in the traditional manner.

They're a little busy at the moment, shredding confidential documents. We like to do our bit for the environment.

No, but sending sausages and/or Henderson's Relish to our office will certainly get you stars:

The Science Registry
Redlands
3/5 Tapton House Road
Sheffield
S10 5BY

**sigh** some people are never happy

I'm afraid it's pretty standard to list every edit. You can of course delete all the old edits when you edit, leaving just the one edit that you edited. Edit. Edit.

No, I'm not. Which is why I can't sort out the reply count, which is currently slightly wrong. We're on to it though ;-)